New From Nissan: Cummins Powered Titan XD

While not exactly “new” as the automotive press has already had a field day with it, Nissan did bring their newish Titan XD to the SHOT Show floor. And since they paid for my breakfast (and parked one right behind the scrambled egg warmer) on Wednesday morning, I felt compelled to check it out. What I found got me really, really excited about it. Namely, the number of guns and dead pigs I can put in one . . .

Since birth, I’ve always associated a diesel truck with “making it.” All the hardworking guys I knew growing up drove full-size Dodge, Ford, and Chevy diesels. When it came time to retire my 2003 Toyota Tacoma, I gave serious consideration to the world of full-size diesels, but the magnitude of that decision both literally and financially turned me off. Instead, I bought a nicely appointed 2007 F150, a decision I have yet to regret. Roughly a month after I signed on the line for my truck, Nissan released their Titan XD, a vehicle meant to bridge the gap between the full size trucks and the half tons.

But this is a gun blog! Never fear. The Titan has plenty of room for those too. Pictured above is the cavernous center console, large enough for even the most robust Desert Eagles and a few of their friends. In fact, Nick and I had a long discussion about whether a broken down .300 BLK SBR and a can will fit in there. If it does, it will bring a whole new dimension to the phrase, “fight your way to your rifle.”

The model Nissan elected to bring to SHOT is their top of the line Platinum Reserve edition, priced at a princely MSRP of $57,470. That’s an eye-watering amount of money until you realize that the Platinum dition F150 costs roughly the same and doesn’t have 555 (!) ft-lbs of torque.

Nissan had their floor model kitted out with an adventure style tent setup and appropriately large Yeti cooler that did a great job of covering up the thoroughly well-sorted bed that features a factory bed liner, storage boxes, an integrated gooseneck hitch, and the ability to still fit 4×8 sheet goods between the wheel wells. Want to tow a trailer with your ATVs or boat? Nissan has you covered with their integrated trailer controller and sway control system.

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE GUNS?!, you must be thinking. Well feast your eyes on the integrated lockable storage locker that sits under the rear seats. Lay your guns in there and fold the expanding shelf forward for a completely flat floor, perfect for the hunters among us who a) want to lock up their guns and b) load a metric crapton of gear or dogs back there.

So get this…Nissan maintains a huge press fleet in Dallas and their marketing team seems to like TTAG (go figure) so they’ve promised me a press truck to use for a yet-to-be-scheduled hunting and outdoor excursion. I’ve promised not to wreck the truck completely, but I am going to throw as many guns as possible inside and take it somewhere to get some meat. Expect a review of the PRO-4X some time in the coming months. That’s the model with the skid plates. We’ll probably need them.

49 Responses to New From Nissan: Cummins Powered Titan XD

“The model Nissan elected to bring to SHOT is their top of the line Platinum Reserve edition, priced at a princely MSRP of $57,470. That’s an eye-watering amount of money until you realize that the Platinum dition F150 costs roughly the same and doesn’t have 555 (!) ft-lbs of torque.”

If I had to pick a “gun truck”, based on what is readily available to the masses, I’d have to go with a RAM because of the RAM Box system, huge center console, double glove box, and backseat hidden storage bins. Most if not all of them lock. I’m actually considering trading out my Raptor for a Power Wagon, but I’m waiting to see how the new ones at the end of the year are doing.

I also drive an 08 and it has been a real jewel . 100 % satisfied and I have driven everything . 150s 250s 350s , Silverado’s , a Tundra once , Rams , and the smaller versions too , the z series Chevys , Rangers and Frontiers and I really love the Titan , it has the best getty-up from a stand still than all comers , never squats with my 33 foot camper or my double axle trailer when I’m hauling my JD around either . I love the box tie downs and all the other stuff and I have actually always considered myself a Ford man , I just got the best deal for a trade in back in 08 for the Titan and now I’m sold .

Truth is the Titan was the first to wear that dress to the party and the Ford boys got dressed in the bathroom after they got there . Not that I don’t love FORD , didn’t take the bail outs and always made a great truck but Titan was the copied at this party .

It’s a shame this engine didn’t come out years ago, it won’t get the mileage of the diesel 1500 dodge, and it won’t increase towing capacity enough to justify the cost over a gasser.

That being said: props for packaging in many towing friendly options, which will make towing a big trailer or goose more pleasant, and props for even being at shot show. Good marketing move. I’m curious what other truck makers were on site.

My 6.0 gasser pulls 13k pounds bumper, 1k more than Titian which has 170 lb more torques. The discrepancy would be Titian’s transmission, suspension and rear axle. It’s the failure of Asian trucks, poor payload and real world towing mechanicals.

The “limited” bumper pull and payload ratings on the XD, is the one reason I’m not looking at it. With that engine and the refinement of a half ton, it would be a sweet tow rig for a heavier trailer. But for a trailer at 12000lbs, with a 1400lb bumper weight, the rest of the truck just doesn’t quite keep up with the engine and presumably the drive train. Add a bike or two plus dome people and luggage, and, nope….. I do like the truck, though. And the truck guys at Nissan, are the most down to earth and unassuming guys in the business.

I’ve tried putting my trailer on the back of a reg cab Silverado gasser, and while it is rated for it, that is definitely more of a commercial (as in all and any comforts be damned) rating, than something someone would cherish puling from California to Prudhoe Bay. Aside from that, I love the old small block in the Silverado. Most hassle free truck engine ever. If the Taliban ever needed to trade in their Hilux’ for full sizers, that’s the one to get…

Make sure you maintain your catalytic converters on that thing – and be mindful it doesn’t get stolen. 1996-2007 Toyotas get stolen. A lot. Somebody tried to jack our old 2004 4Runner from our driveway. The same suspect was arrested by Brea PD for stealing a different Toyota about the same age about a mile from our house.

I smile every time I am sitting at a stoplight next to one of the old 7.3l Powerstrokes. I always crack the window to hear that rattle the turbo spool and whoosh when they let of the throttle, just gets me going. All the new diesels are a lot faster but they just don’t make good truck engines like that anymore.

Hopefully Nissan doesn’t skip on what dodge did when it comes to their diesel lines. HP is nice but when your tranny and or rear end is laying in the street, you can pull much. $57k for a truck, didn’t we just come out of a recession?

We’re in a recession and it’s going to get worse. Car loan bubble is huge and it’s popping. Nobody is going to buy half of these new cars and trucks. If Elio can keep that price low once they come out (which I doubt), that’s going to be the sort of “car” people will be buying.